Though she got the impression her Master was about to do something very 'dangerous', Fenrir did not hesitate to appear at his side, eyes focused and ready for anything. This elicited an appreciative smile from her Master, but, before he could explain his intentions, Yoruichi burst into laughter while Hinata, having seen Gandr's current state up close, covered her red face with both hands.
Following the direction of Yoruichi's pointing, Vahn noticed that Gandr was still naked. His clothes had been destroyed during the naming process, and, now that he had lost access to the Inventory, he had no way to cover himself. He still didn't understand why Yoruichi was laughing, however, as the boy wasn't exactly lacking when it came to the development of certain body parts.
Having been agitated by Vahn's Source Energy, Gandr wasn't at all amused by Yoruichi's antics. The nails on his fingers became progressively sharper, but, before he could act on his instincts, Fenrir's paw came down on his head like a hammer as she firmly intoned, "Bad boy. We don't bare fang and claw at family. Ask Master for some clothes and then go wait near the World Tree."
As his template had him behave deferentially towards his older sister, Gandr's ears instantaneously drooped in response to Fenrir's words. His claws and teeth also quickly reverted back to normal as he lowered his head towards Vahn and asked, "Master, may I please have some clothes...?"
Since things were beginning to get a little awkward, Vahn handed Gandr a [REquip] system from his Inventory before ruffling the boy's hair and saying, "Run along. We have training pretty soon."
Nodding his head in understanding, Gandr placed the [REquip] system on his left wrist, donning his usual attire in an instant before promptly sinking into his own shadow. This caused his presence to disappear even from Vahn's perception. In the next moment, however, he had reappeared, now on the 'surface' Texture. He had used [Shadow Step] to cut through a 'Shadow Dimension', and, though it was normally impossible to pass between Textures so easily, Gandr's mastery over Space allowed him to ignore such restrictions.
With the not-so-young Vanargandr out of the picture, Vahn turned his attention to Yoruichi, his expression a perfect deadpan as he asked, "So, what's so funny? Why did you laugh...?"
Demonstrating no hesitation whatsoever, Yoruichi offered a fearless smile in return as she asked, "Are you kidding me? Why does a boy that 'young' need such a comically oversized member? He isn't even trying to woo any women, yet he's got a tail on both the front and the back? Come on, that's got to be some kind of joke, right?"
Not expecting such a response, Vahn found himself at a complete loss for words, his expression remaining the same deadpan as before. For a brief moment, he found himself remembering the first time he had taken a bath with Tsubaki, but, before he could become awash in his memories, Hinata exacerbated things considerably by pressing her fingers together and murmuring, "I thought it looked cute..."
With everyone's attention shifting toward her, Hinata, once again, buried her face into her hands, a scarlet red hue coloring her ears. This was met with an oppressive silence that lingered for several long seconds, broken only when Yoruichi burst into laughter and began furiously patting Hinata on the back as she exclaimed, "It seems Vahn imagined you as a closet pervert! Maybe he read a few too many doujinshi? Hahahahahaha~!"
Hearing Yoruichi's remark, imaginary steam began to rise from Hinata's head as she regretted her honesty. One of the things that had 'secretly' troubled Vahn about her original character was that she was unable to speak her mind, so, now that she had developed a nascent ego that coincided with his perception of her, the most drastic change to her character was that she felt a need to tell people what she was thinking...
Deciding to put an end to Yoruichi's antics, Vahn adopted a firm tone as he stated, "That's enough. I understand you're just playing around, but you're taking things too far. You shouldn't laugh at the expense of others, Yoruichi."
Seemingly undaunted by Vahn's words, Yoruichi adopted a challenging smile, arms crossed as she asked, "Hooo~? Am I doing something wrong? It's not like I've insulted anyone. Besides, who is it that made me like this, I wonder? Aren't I the confident, mischievous, and whimsical woman of your dreams~?"
Though he 'knew' Yoruichi liked to tease people, almost incessantly, Vahn found it difficult to simply accept her words. As a result, his expression became somewhat dour, compelling Yoruichi to adopt a frown of her own as she remarked, "You're no fun. I bet Hinata isn't even upset...you're just being overprotective. You should learn to cut loose a little. This whole Emperor play you've got going on is just going to make everyone's lives more difficult. You should just be yourself, not the person you think the situation needs you to be. I sure as hell won't pretend to be something I'm not...name or no name..."
Taken aback by Yoruichi's words, Vahn's expression softened somewhat, replaced by a not-so-subtle look of conflict as he seriously considered her words. Unfortunately, or perhaps the reverse, he was unable to consider them more deeply as Hinata regained enough composure to say, "Ms. Yoruichi is right...this journey is pointless if you don't enjoy it. Even though I'm embarrassed to think about the future...I'm happy to be here right now...I want to see and experience lots of things...I want to do my best to help all the people that need our help...I want to support our friends and allies...I...I..."
With her complexion quickly reaching dangerous levels of crimson, Hinata became a little unsteady on her feet. Fortunately, before she could drop any 'substantial' bombshells, Fenrir stepped in, her expression serious as she stated, "Master is at his best when he acts however he pleases. Going at the pace of others is going to make you feel suffocated, just like in the Akamatsuverse. You should just do what you want to do. Even if you make mistakes, we will help you clean them up."
Unprepared for the sudden pep talk, Vahn could only stare blankly at the three girls, confused as to how the conversation had shifted towards him. He suspected this was orchestrated by Yoruichi in an attempt to lessen her own blame, but, considering the context of their statements, it was hard to be certain. All he knew for sure was that they were trying to get him to stop holding back, much as Sis had been...
Aware of his every thought, Sis seized the opportunity to add her own opinion, stating, (*You need to learn how to trust yourself. Constantly holding back will never allow you to reach the peak. Stop being afraid of things like expanding your harem or disappointing others. You are the man who will stand up the very pinnacle of creation, shaping reality itself with your thoughts. Have confidence in the person you have become, Vahn. This is the best thing you can do to repay the trust others have placed into you...besides, even if you were to try and convince them that your harem wasn't going to increase any further, how many of your wives do you think would believe you?*)
Though he couldn't help but question Sis' dual mention of expanding his harem, Vahn understood the basic premise of what she was trying to say. She, and everyone else, actually made a very good point. He was someone aiming for an absolute and incomprehensible amount of power; an amount that would see him rule over infinite cosmoses. There was no way he would be able to reach such a level if he continued doing things like playing by the rules of other people and observing from the sidelines as others grew into their power...
Realizing he was focusing more on the growth of others rather than himself, an exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's lips. He was supposed to be aiming for an incomprehensible level of power, yet, in spite of this, he was slowing his pace just to protect a group of people he had met little more than a month prior. At the same time, he was ignoring the countless others who had similar aspirations and ambitions; idling about as the people he had 'chosen' gradually increased their strength.
Vahn knew that, if he really wanted to, his power would increase explosively just by moving up the Tower. Even the Guardians wouldn't be able to hold him back, and, though he was bound to meet a few setbacks along the way, he could, quite literally, pull himself back together and try again. There were no limits to the things he could accomplish, and, unlike others, the chances of him becoming corrupt were virtually non-existent.
With the exception of the family he had left behind, the family he was desperately trying to reunite with, Vahn already had 'everything' most people could ever desire. His potential was unlimited, he had absolute dominion over a functionally infinite Realm, a massive harem of passionate lovers, an ever-expanding family tree, trillions of believers, and, most importantly, an empathetic heart and a sincere desire to help other people.
No matter how strong he became, no matter what he experienced along the way, the singular truth that resonated at the very core of his existence was that he wanted to help people. Despite the path his Divination counterpart had walked, Vahn firmly believed that he would never stop trying to help people. He felt genuine pain when others were hurt, and, though there were some people he could never forgive, it was impossible for him not to feel guilty after taking a life. Their pain and anguish resonated with something deep inside of him, and, though they had undoubtedly deserved to die, the fact they had been pushed down such a path saddened him.
If Vahn were being honest with himself, the moments he had experienced as Gandr were some of the happiest he had accumulated in recent memory. He enjoyed the feeling of 'freedom' that came with just doing whatever he wanted, so, when he heard the words of the four, Vahn couldn't shake the feeling he had messed up the order of things. He was supposed to be walking a path towards the absolute pinnace, a place where others could follow but never reach. If he set his pace based on the growth of others, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that it would take thousands of years, if not longer, to reach the goals he had set for himself...
As if to hammer the point home, Sis picked up on this train of thought, appending,(*Though there are bound to be powerful beings in the Tower, they are far beneath the entities that lay beyond it. If you want to experience a true challenge, you should move ahead at your own pace. The further and faster you climb, the more people will try to bar your passage. It is through overcoming these trials that your strength will blossom. You already have everything you need, and, even if you don't, you can obtain it along the way...what are you waiting for?*)
Hearing Sis' words, a mystical light began to illuminate within the depths of Vahn's eyes, the void around him trembling in response to his aura. He knew she was right, and, if he genuinely pushed himself, it might only take a few years to conquer the entire Tower. There were bound to be people barring his passage, but, as he had attested to time and again, one of the things he feared the least was a challenge. In fact, it was something he craved to the point of foolhardiness, so much so that one of the first thoughts he had entertained after obtaining his new Innate was creating a powerful rival for himself.
Realizing how contrary his actions had been up until this point, Vahn couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh, startling the bashful Hinata to the point that she nearly fell down. As for Yoruichi and Fenrir, they both just smiled in response, the former raising her chin slightly while the latter seemed to grow increasingly agitated. She was the most affected by his mental state, so, as his excitement grew, so too did Fenrir's.
Though he knew he would mellow out once he calmed down and had time to properly consider his future actions, the current Vahn was too caught up in the moment to hold himself back. As a result, he unabashedly fluffed up Fenrir's hair and ears for several seconds before turning to Yoruichi, hand extended as he said, "Come..."
Despite closing the distance without any hesitation, Yoruichi didn't miss the opportunity to adopt a vicious smile of her own as she playfully remarked, "We'll see if you have what it takes..."
Ignoring the woman's goading, Vahn made use of his Petting Laws to caress Yoruichi's silky, dark-purple, hair. It was something he had always wanted to do, and, though it more than a little selfish considering the circumstances behind her creation, he got the impression she wanted him to do it. Rather, much like her personality had been dictated by his perception of her, his adolescent crush on her had manifested in a way that made her uncharacteristically receptive to him. After all, much as she had alluded to previously, he had always thought about what it would be like to keep her as a pet. She was very likely the reason he had developed such a fondness for Cat People, and, though she lacked the characteristic ears and tail, her ability to transform into a literal black cat gave Vahn a strong desire to pamper and play with her...
As if her earlier words were false bravado, Yoruichi quickly developed a contented smile in response to being caressed. She even began pushing her head against his palm, and, after a few seconds had passed, two purple cat ears spontaneously sprouted from the top of her head. This resulted in Vahn using both hands to fondle the newly formed ears, his fingers massaging their interior as the edges of Yoruichi's mouth curled into a vaguely feline smile.
Petting one of his childhood crushes was a pretty surreal experience for Vahn, but, before he could get fully into it, a demure voice emanated from just outside his periphery. This caused him to turn his head to the side, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinholes before rapidly expanding when he saw the cat ears that had sprouted from the timid girl's head. Then, as if to destroy the last vestiges of his restraint, she pressed her fingers together and muttered, "Ano...I would also...like to be pet..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's better to have and not need than it is to need and not have (UwU)...','An unexpected intervention...!','A monster has just been created...')
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With the time drawing ever-closer to the moment they were supposed to begin their training, most of the members of Team Wolf Pack could be seen gathering outside of Vahn's room. A few of them had visible signs of a hangover, but, thanks to the blessings of Shinsu and an invigorating fruit drink provided by Phae, they were rapidly recovering.
Since she was aware of the things taking place inside the Little Garden, Phae had already informed the group they were in for a surprise, but, no matter how many times she was asked, her response was simply, "You'll have to wait and see~." in a playful tone. Fortunately, most of them had started to appear after 4:30 AM, so, with only half an hour until they were supposed to begin their training, they weren't kept waiting for too long.
What none of them expected was for a handsome man with healthy brown skin, dark-brown hair, and vibrant bluish-green eyes to open Vahn's door when there were only five minutes remaining. Even stranger was the fact he had a cat riding on his shoulder, an exceptionally rare Shinheuh that was generally only found above the 100th Floor. What made this cat even stranger, besides its rich coat of black fur, were its piercing, intelligent, golden eyes...
Vocalizing what everyone else was thinking, Rak was the first to ask, "Who is this Green-Eyed Turtle? Where is the Bearded-One known as Vahn?"
Understanding everyone's confusion, Vahn issued a light-hearted chuckle before promptly replying, "I am the God of Infinite Possibilities. Did you think my true form was that of an old man? That was just a convenient vessel I used to keep people at arm's length. Now that you are part of my Familia, there is no harm in revealing to you my true form."
Though he technically had no such thing as a true form, the words of Sis, Fenrir, Yoruichi, and even Hinata had made Vahn realized the futility of trying to keep people at bay by appearing older. If he really wanted to deter them, he could easily transform into the ugliest existence within the entire Tower. Instead, he became an extremely fit and marginally handsome older gentleman, effectively changing the type of woman who was drawn to him rather than actually deterring them.
Now that he had decided to stop holding himself back, Vahn assumed the form he often made use of within his Realm, that of a handsome man in peak physical condition. He lost a bit of the majesty his older form possessed, but, in exchange, he exuded an aura of confidence that was enhanced by his sharp features and relaxed smile.
With the exception of Anak, all of the other women present were 'pleasantly surprised' by Vahn's sudden change in appearance. Hwa Ryun, in particular, had an exceptionally vibrant smile on her face, but, before she could make things awkward, Vahn liberated the group from their stupor by saying, "Hurry inside. Training is scheduled to start promptly at 5 AM. I'll explain everything else during breakfast."
Following Vahn's suggestion, everyone promptly filed into his room before entering into the Little Garden. There, they found three people waiting for them: Gandr, a young woman with matching racial traits, and a demure-looking girl with short black hair and pale-lavender, almost-white, eyes.
Though everyone could guess the identity of the woman with midnight-blue hair and scarlet eyes, none had any idea who the young girl with prominent fringe bangs was. All they knew was that she looked like a young and sheltered princess, but, before any of them could think to ask who she was, they found themselves gawking as the black cat on Vahn's shoulder leaped towards the other three, transforming into an athletic beauty with dark-purple hair tied up into a high ponytail.
Taking advantage of everyone's stunned silence, Vahn gestured towards the group of four, casually explaining, "As I'm sure many of you have already guessed, this charming young woman who looks similar to Gandr is none other than Fenrir, my most cherished companion. As for the other two, you can think of them as my retainers. The woman with the cat-like features and predatory smile is one of the Captains of my Shadow Division, Yoruichi Shihoin. As for this adorable young lady with pearl-like eyes, her name is Hinata Hyuga. She might appear timid on the surface, but, when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, she is the second-strongest here. If you underestimate her, you're bound to experience some suffering."
Since Hinata gave off the impression that she couldn't even hurt a fly, it was difficult to imagine she was as strong as Vahn had claimed. Despite this, none of them doubted Vahn's words, as, with the exception of Rak and Baam, many of them had learned from a very young age that you didn't judge people based solely on appearance. After all, if appearance dictated strength, Anak would be one of the weakest members of the group, not a powerhouse that could thrash virtually everyone with raw physical strength.
With basic introductions out of the way, Vahn and Phae joined the group representing the Empire as he explained, "In accordance with my past promises, I will do my best to help each of you draw out your potential by the time we reach the 20th Floor. From that moment onward, your journey up the Tower will depend wholly on your efforts as a Team. You can't rely on my protection forever, so, if you're serious about achieving your objectives, you will use these next few months to strengthen your foundation and improve your teamwork. To that end, I will have Hatsu and Chunhwa train with Gandr. As for the rest of you, Shibisu and Nare will be under the supervision of Yoruichi, Aleksai and Rak will be following the direction of Fenrir, Endorsi and Anak will be training alongside Hinata, and, last but not least, Khun has the fortune of receiving Phae's tutelage while I, personally, will supervise the training of Baam, Laure, and Hwa Ryun. Any questions?"
Though quite a number of people had questions, especially Endorsi and Anak, the first to speak out was Rak, arms crossed as he asserted, "I do not need a Fluffy Turtle to oversee my training! I am Rak Wraithraiser! What can-"
Before Rak could finish speaking, a spear of ice passed by his head at hypersonic speed, missing his cheek by mere millimeters. This caused a layer of frost to spread along the left side of his face, but, much like everyone else present, he was too stunned to even move as Fenrir coldly retorted, "Until you complete my training, you might as well be a worm crawling along the ground. My Master has told me to train you, so, regardless of your personal feelings, I will whip you into shape. Unless you want to become the weakest member on your entire Team, you will follow my training schedule to the letter."
As most of them couldn't even see Fenrir's attack after it had been launched, her words carried a considerable amount of weight. The only person who was unconvinced was Rak himself, but, after feeling the predatory aura radiating from Fenrir's body, his instincts compelled him to remain silent. His eyes, however, conveyed a strong desire to overcome the petite woman, securing his position at the very top of the food chain.
Sensing Rak's desire to 'hunt' her, nine Baangs of Shinsu immediately formed a semi-circle behind Fenrir, stunning everyone present. Before she could teach Rak a 'lesson', however, Vahn plopped his hand atop Fenrir's head, shattering her Baangs in an instant as he ruffled her hair and said, "Go easy on them. Even if I can return them to life, experiencing death is pretty traumatic..."
Hearing Vahn's casual remark about 'returning them to life', Khun's brows immediately shot up as he asked, "You can resurrect the dead? Does that mean you're the one who took Grey's body from the hospital ward?"
Shifting his attention to Khun, Vahn smiled in response to the young man's inquiry before nodding his head and explaining, "Both Hoh and Grey are currently within the Little Garden. You will be able to interact with them at some point, but, for the time being, their training will remain separate from your own. Grey has chosen to return to the Middle Tower and Hoh has already made the resolve to walk his own path. Now, fewer questions, more action. It is already time to begin your training, so, unless it is something important, hold your questions until breakfast."
Though nearly everyone had questions they wanted to ask, Vahn's words were enough to silence the majority. Anak, however, was not among them, her characteristically bored expression showing extreme anxiety and borderline desperation as she appeared before him, shouting, "You can bring back the dead!? What are the requirements!? Tell me!"
Without minding the fact that Anak was forcibly pulling on his clothes, Vahn responded by patting the girl's head as he explained, "I can't bring back your mother right now. The future, however, is filled with infinite possibilities. Though it might take some time, I promise you will have the chance to reunite with your mother. For now, the most important thing is for you to obtain the happiness she would have wanted for you. Live a life she would be proud of so that when you finally reunite, she won't have any regrets..."
With an extremely comfortable energy washing over her body, Anak's panicked expression quickly melted into one of moderate confusion as she found herself at a loss for words. She had only ever felt this relaxed during the times when she slept in Phae's embrace, so, for a brief moment, Anak's complex thought processes ceased entirely as Vahn's words settled within her heart and mind.
Since he wasn't trying to 'tame' the not-so-young lizard girl, Vahn ended up retracting his hand after a few seconds had passed, smiling gently as he said, "Don't worry. Though we may not always be direct, Gods are incapable of lying. Now, run along and learn as much as you can from Hinata. I have great expectations for you, Anak."
Similar to when he had instinctually pet Marble, Anak had a dull yet longing look in her eyes as her gaze followed his retracted hand. The efficacy of Petting Laws were inordinately powerful within the Transcendental Path to Heaven, so, even without [Hands of Nirvana], Vahn was able to forcibly calm someone down with a simple touch. It was actually a little terrifying, but, as he had no intention of misusing the power, Vahn was able to maintain his smile as he gently urged Anak in the direction of Hinata before turning to face the remaining Regulars.
Noticing the cautious look in Khun's eyes, Vahn couldn't help but issue a light chuckle as he lifted his hand to explain, "As ridiculous as this might sound, I'm probably the closet thing to a God of Petting that exists within the Tower. If I wanted to, I could probably 'tame' each and every person here, much like the Family Head of the Lo Po Bia Family. Instead, I generally use my power to help people calm down, relax, or simply feel comfortable. Don't worry, I won't pet your head if you don't want me to. I respect established boundaries."
Not expecting Vahn to just openly discuss his 'power', Khun's expression showed mild incredulity, a state that was exacerbated by Fenrir smiling proudly as she said, "Master's headpats are the best! If you work hard, he will be sure to reward you with plenty~!"
Hearing Fenrir's remark, Vahn's smile turned slightly wry as he looked back at her and said, "Don't go making promises on my behalf, Fenrir. Even if there is some truth to your words, you'll give them strange ideas if you say things like that. Now, take your students and run along. We've already been standing here for far too long. We can talk more during breakfast."
To punctuate his words, Vahn fluffed up Fenrir's hair and ears one last time before shifting his gaze to Baam, Laure, and Hwa Ryun to say, "The three of you are with me. Come along. I have much to teach you."
Without waiting for the trio to respond, Vahn used his Telekinesis to grab all three of them, smiling as he teleported alongside them to the expansive sub-texture he had created to conduct Gandr's Naming Ceremony...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn make girls go brrrr','Fenrir is scary','The Godhand Returns (OwO)~!')
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